News

August 27, 1999

SPRINGFIELD MAN SHOCKED BY $25,000 WINNINGS

A Springfield man headed back to the gas station to check if any of his lottery tickets were a winner from the previous night’s SHOW ME 5 drawing by the Missouri Lottery. After checking his ticket in the Check-A-Ticket machine, Joe Rook went to see the clerk to only discover he had just won $25,000 tax-paid*.
"I thought I had won like $5 or something," Rook said. "Only when the clerk started screaming, I realized I won the $25,000."
Rook, 53, purchased his winning ticket at Express Lane, 1700 Valley Water Mill in Springfield. The winning numbers were: 6, 22, 23, 25 and 28. He let the computer select his winning numbers.
Rook plans to use his winnings for home improvements. The winnings will also pay for his semi-annual vacation to Las Vegas.
"My wife and I will be taking our trip to Vegas sometime this year," Rook said. "I just need to wait for good time to take off work for my vacation."
Rook was the single winner of $25,000 tax paid from the Aug. 25 SHOW ME 5 drawing.
*Twenty-eight percent federal tax and 4 percent state taxes are withheld from the total prize amount of $36,764.70 to provide $25,000 cash at the time of redemption. Depending on personal income, winners may owe additional taxes for the prize, or they may receive a refund.